Tag Archives: Touring

June 14, 2012

The Kirsten Thien Band C 2 Shining C Tour: No Regrets

Life on the road can make or break you. There are long periods of monotonous driving, exhausted periods of sleep and al the pitfalls that we have all seen documented in the press and history.
What these road warrior artists need is a day to ‘chill’ and here are Ms. Thien’s reflections on such a day.

May 14th 2012
Town: Pray, MT
Venue: Day Off @ Chico Hot Springs Resort

TODAY’S “ADVENTURE”
Parsing out time between a beach towel on the front lawn, the Chico Hot Springs pool, the lovely Chico Resort “Espresso and Gift Shop”, and a bottle of light French blush wine in the sunshine. You can hear the birds making music all day (click on photo below for video snippet and turn up your volume). [Gallery not found]

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
Not turning on a computer, not using the Internet, enjoying the beauty around me and knowing that everything, including the gorgeous snow-capped mountain in front of me will be there to tackle tomorrow. Lyrics from the newest song in our set capture this a little: “…And when you need a rest, it’s time to heal. I know how you feel. I know how you feel. So say it out loud. Just say it out loud.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Today’s little 24-hour vacation in the mountains of Montana is one of the sweetest and most calming moments I’ve enjoyed in years. I think I’ve been moving constantly since the release of the record and, somehow, it has all led here – to this moment of reflection and some deep understanding that I am where I am supposed to be today. And the music has brought me here.

We didn’t know until about 1 a.m. yesterday we’d stay here today and tonight. We came to Pray, MT for last night’s show at the Chico Saloon (LOVE this venue!) and we are now passing through to head down the road for more gigs on the West Coast. As unexpected as this soothing day in the midst of such beauty is, I know that it was the months of preparation for this tour and the last five days of drive-gig-sleep-repeat that has made the day that much more precious. Just like the miles make the shows themselves more precious. I’ve been buying a lottery ticket in each state on our route, just for fun. (I’m up $4.) If one of those tickets hits big and all of a sudden I had tons of cash on my hands, I am sure that no amount of money could buy this feeling. Tomorrow, we’ll start the scurry again. But today we stand still. Just for a moment, I am content.

TODAY’S REGRET
Not a single one.

==================End May 14th

to be continued . . .

Other entries in Kirsten’s travel log can be viewed here: http://blues411.com/?p=4376
http://blues411.com/?p=4216
http://blues411.com/?p=4181
http://blues411.com/?p=4153
http://blues411.com/?p=4130

You should also check out her website at: http://kirstenthien.com/

Until next time,
Love, Peace & Chicken Grease
chefjimi
©Blues411.com 2012
photos: Dylan Wissing, Blues411

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Filed under Blues, Blues411, Entertainment, Guest Blogs, Opinion, Performance Review, Rock & Roll

Tagged as American Roots Music, Bill Wax, Blues, Blues411, Chefjimi, Dylan Wissing, Entertainment, Joseph A. Rosen, Kirsten Thien, Leslie K. Joseph, Rock & Roll, The Blues Foundation, Tony Colter, Touring, Travel, XM 70 Bluesville

June 3, 2012

THE KIRSTEN THIEN BAND “C2 Shining C Tour” True Grit, T-Rex and Shots of Jay-mo!

When we last encountered our heroine, she was sleeping with squirrels and other wildlife, Oh what dreams they must have been!
Answers to this and the latest adventures unfolds before us in her latest update from the road.

——————————————

May 12th 2012
Town: Scranton, ND
Venue: Buffalo Creek Saloon

TODAY’S REFLECTION
There are times when it’s required to push through, even when you feel like you have nothing left to give. My voice is feeling very tired tonight and I slept horribly last night. It was my first night in a taxidermist’s home, so no wonder…city girl.

There is no time to rest before the gig, and I can barely get warmed up enough to sing a C above middle C without feeling like I will faint from all the air sneaking through my usually clear vocal tone. I drag myself from my little cabin (right behind the venue, thankfully) through the club’s back entrance and to the stage. After the first song, I want to faint. After the 2nd song, I am not sure I’ll survive three sets and 36 or so songs to sing. Pushing back waves of fear, I have a hundred thoughts going through my head – mostly negative. All the self doubt, getting pissed at myself for small missteps that contributed to me being so tired right now, getting pissed at other people (anyone I can blame for the shape I’m in). And then this is the one thought I have to hold onto. “Kirsten, you didn’t drive all this way and drag these guys here and ‘sleep’ in a bunk bed at the taxidermist’s house last night just to ‘suffer through’ this gig tonight. You came here to rock, and so did the people of North Dakota – cowboy hats and all! Find that source, listen to the lyrics you labored over, and for the next three hours, do what you came to do.”

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
Sitting back and watching my band play the Cissy Strut before I join them for our 3rd set. I am so privileged to work with these guys. When I’m on stage with these guys I feel fully supported, like falling back in one of those trust-building games. I can be 100% free with my own expression, and I can take chances every night because these guys have my back. We have grown together over time, and this instrumental segment tonight has afforded me a moment to revel in the talent I’m surrounded by. Dylan Wissing on Drums. David Patterson on Guitar. Erik Boyd on Bass. There is a certain stride we’ve hit tonight. Sitting back for a minute and being able to just listen to the band, pumping it out here in the plains of North Dakota in a real western honky-tonk, I feel very proud and honored. I dance!

TODAY’S “ADVENTURE”
Today I learned a lot about what’s going on in North Dakota. It’s an oil boom! It’s kinda crazy. Before the tour, I’d read a little bit about the effects of the boom, and tonight, on breaks and after the set, Erik and Jim (the club owner) and I talked and talked about real estate (his other fulltime business), oil findings, land prices, and T-Rex fossil discoveries. All of a sudden, some of the folks of ND who’ve struggled keeping farms going for years are hitting the lottery with land that has been in the family for years and which, now, is worth millions because of oil.

The three of us talk and talk, and share more and more Jameson as the evening progresses. Somewhere in my mind is a foggy recollection of Jim assuring me that all this money didn’t make any the good people of North Dakota “happier”. That is, unless they did something like the woman who pledged $6000/year to every town graduate who goes to college – thirty-five (or so) and counting.

TODAY’S REGRET
That last shot of Jameson with the club owner. Maybe even the second-to-last-one too.

==================End May 12th
to be continued . . .

Other entries in Kirsten’s travel log can be viewed here:
http://blues411.com/?p=4216
http://blues411.com/?p=4181
http://blues411.com/?p=4153
http://blues411.com/?p=4130

You must also check out her website at http://kirstenthien.com/

Until next time,
Love, Peace & Chicken Grease
chefjimi
©Blues411.com 2012
photos: Dylan Wissing, Blues411

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THE KIRSTEN THIEN BAND “C2 Shining C Tour” Taxi Love in North Dakota

Once again we follow Kirsten Thien and her band as they cross the great American continent. Her smart and informative updates from the road have been a big hit with all of you. In this edition we find her communing with nature and that is just one of the things on today’s agenda, as is sowing of the seeds, read on.

May 11th 2012
Town: Newburg, ND
Venue: Suzy Q’s

TODAY’S “ADVENTURE”
Finding lodging on the great Northern Plains in ND, just a few miles south of Canada and 467 miles from the last show. North Dakota, historically long on land and short on shelter, is now seeing a major influx of people during the current oil boom. There are no hotels for miles and many of those are booked solid for months. As part of our deal for this show, the club provides a band house, which tonight is the local taxidermist’s home while he is away. Our first clue was “Fred” the deer, whose huge antlers cover the entire right corner of the room. Then there were videos such as: “Squirrels: Skins and Mounts” and “Call’n All Bears: They Come to Eat!” After the gig, I kept it to myself when the woman who had told the band that we were staying at the taxidermist’s house later said to me…”Oh, I’ve gone by there when he’s got squirrel parts laying everywhere to dry.” We’re a long way from New York City, Dorothy. This should give the band a whole new perspective on our version of “Taxi Love.”

TODAY’S REGRET
Well, if I could have controlled or predicted the ‘seeding week’ this year, I would have. We are in the midst of farming country tonight, and there are a few weather-dependent events every year that can’t be predicted when booking a show months in advance. During seeding week everyone in ‘Ag’ (as they call farming here in ND) will be working 24-7 until the seeds are sowed. Sowing must be completed before strict insurance deadlines. Though the club owner (Susan) knew that turnout would be affected by seeding this week (and she apologized to us for that), she cooked us up a fantastic pre-show dinner (best fried chicken I’ve had, plus a cheese and potato casserole). She sat and chatted with the band, filling us in on the local industry and happenings.

I have heard horror stories of promoters and club owners trying to ‘change the deal’ after you get there and when outside circumstances cut into their ability to profit. (Popa Chubby just posted one of those today from Waikiki!) Though I’ve borne my share of risk (and lost) many times, thankfully I’ve never experienced someone trying to shaft me after the fact. Tonight, Susan not only lived up to the deal with no irony at all, she also went out of her way to make us feel at home in the North Country. For that, I only regret that I couldn’t have moved ‘seeding week’ to last week so we’d all be celebrating right now!

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Making lemonade must be a key component to a great smile! After tonight’s show, I sat down with a smiling Doreen for a chat. Doreen wanted to dance tonight and she’d let it out that she was a transplanted New Yorker, so I knew I could get her up with a bit of prodding. After the show, Doreen shared her story with me, which took her on a path from a Long Island kid who had never come in to NYC until she was 17, to a dedicated New York business woman/workaholic, to a recession-affected Manager not content to collect unemployment and take a walk in Central Park. Doreen had to work! So she packed up everything and headed to Canada. With all her belongings in tow, but no work visa, Canada was a no-go. So Doreen landed a few miles south of Canada, here in Newburg. She found what work existed, saved up, and bought the local diner – where she makes her living now. She made lemonade with those lemons. And even though the diner (the only one in 30 miles) was to be closed the next day, Doreen made us coffees to go – with a smile and well-wishes! Southern hospitality, from a New Yorker, in the North Country. Thanks, Doreen.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
Driving into North Dakota and hearing our radio spot play on the area-wide country station! We are in Country & Western Music-land. Hearing our own Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n Roll in this context reminds me of the tie that binds almost all forms of American Music together. The Blues are undeniably the common thread among the great popular music genres that America has invented and spread worldwide, from Jazz to Country & Western to Rhythm and Blues, and on to good ‘ol Rock ‘n Roll. Long live the Blues, right here in Country & Western land!